I LOVE Alabama!

August 6th
We have had a great week here in the Alabama Birmingham Mission! Here are some highlights (bullet points help me organize my thoughts better....so sorry if this is weird for ya'll)( and yes the people and the Elders are getting me hooked on the word ya'll- it is a great word!)
I was able to go to Zone Leader Council and learn a lot of great things on how to remember what we learned in our 12 week training program. It focuses a lot of revelation- and how crucial that is in our lives, and helping other understand their relationship with God.  I have learned so much through teaching and hearing other peoples experiences in how God has answered their prayers
We have been able to visit a lot of recent converts, and they are so great! We had a great experience this week as we talked to one of the recent converts, and he shared how he starting to understand more and more the covenants he has made with God, and how God really does answer prayers at the right time we need them answered, to show his love for us. These people are teaching me so much!
There are so many baptisms happening in the mission, it is a miracle to see because our President texts us all every night after they have happened.  There are two who are being baptized this weekend in the Branch and it is so neat seeing the members excited about missionary work.  We have a big family night in a house where two members live with their families- we invite investigators, and it is perfect for them to hear the testimonies of the members
We had a great fast and testimony meeting, and one of our investigators was at church- so it was perfect for him to hear of the love of God they have felt in their lives through the Restored Gospel.  He is trying to figure out what these things mean for him.  What a great thing for us to help him and learn from him as well!
We are trying to be better at thinking out of the box, to help people come unto Christ- it is going pretty well, but we are always looking and trying to think of new ideas.
I was able to go on an exchange on Saturday with a Temple Square sister from Italy- Sister Lui.  She is super fun and bubbly and we got to go teach a member who spoke Italian who lived in the stake. He speaks Italian, Spanish and English. His wife speaks Spanish and English, and sister Lui speaks Italian and English and understands most Spanish- and then I understand like 1/8 of Italian.  It was so neat to hear everyone interchange between all three languages....one of the greatest experiences I have had on the mission- getting to know them better, teaching them ,and learning from their experiences as well. I got to spend the rest of the day with her in one of the biggest trailer parks in Alabama- :) We had fun tracting, and contacting former investigators and meeting new people.  We got some funny looks as she tried to combine Italian and English- it was very funny haha. We were able to have some great lessons- and I loved learning from her and how she teaches, and helps people understand the doctrine that we teach! We taught a man who had been taught by missionaries before, and we gave him some new invitations to help him increase his faith in Christ, we had  really neat experience with him as we let him know that we were there because Christ had sent us, that he never leaves us alone, and when we put God first in our lives, he helps and blesses us more than we can imagine.  He shared a sweet and powerful testimony that he has felt the Love of God in his life, and knows that Christ never leaves anyone alone, that everyone is Loved and can feel of this love whenever we need it.
I have probably shared this before, but my testimony has grown even more that Christ really does care about "the one" that all through our lives we have opportunities to help others, and lift up the hands that hang down.  People want to be remembered, and we as people have the opportunity to help others feel loved, and cared about and as we do this they will feel of the love the Savior has for them.  We are learning a lot about Charity- and our President said- we have to pray for the gift of charity- and the Lord will help us develop it more and more in our lives. Moroni 7:48.
I am so grateful for the love the Lord shows and helps me feel through other people I meet, members in the branch and the missionaries that I serve with. He is helping me learn more about the importance of love, and how we can show it to other people, and it makes a world of difference in the type of relationships we form with those around us.
I hope everyone has a great week! And yes there have been flash flood warnings here, but out of all the buildings on the 1st floor of the apt. complex- ours was one of the ones that didn't flood....we are definitely being blessed here! Love you all !
Hermana Coleman